musée national des beaux-arts du québec by OMA tops out in canada

musée national des beaux-arts du québec by OMA tops out in canada
image courtesy of MNBAQ / idra labrie

the OMA-designed ‘musée national des beaux-arts du québec‘ (MNBAQ) has topped out, with a steel truss system framing the museum’s three stacked galleries. the project marks OMA’s first project in canada, extending from the city’s parc des champs-de-bataille to the adjacent grande-allée. while it creates a dramatic new presence for the museum along this main thoroughfare, it’s full height respectfully allows the adjacent st. dominique church tower to continue to serve as a landmark for both the park and the MNBAQ.

image courtesy of MNBAQ / idra labrie

along its straight side, a circulation spine features orchestrated views between the galleries and to the park beyond. together with a large elevator within the grand hall, a spiral staircase and cantilevering exterior stair create a number of potential routes through the museum. the scheme’s rising trajectory begins with the temporary galleries, before culminating in a view from the highest volume out over the city. OMA’s new york office won the design competition for the project in 2010. construction began in september 2013, ahead of an expected opening date of early 2016.

image courtesy of MNBAQ / idra labrie

OMA partner-in-charge shohei shigematsu explained: ‘beyond a museum extension, our ambition was to provide an extension to the city and the park. like the topography of the hills beyond, the gallery boxes and the inhabitable roof form a landslide that extends the museum to the park. the galleries float above the grand hall that will serve as an urban plaza for the museum’s public functions.’

see designboom‘s previous coverage of the project here.

image courtesy of provencher roy

image courtesy of provencher roy

image courtesy of MNBAQ / idra labrie

image courtesy of provencher roy

image courtesy of MNBAQ / idra labrie

image courtesy of MNBAQ / idra labrie

image courtesy of provencher roy

image courtesy of OMA